UCSF Names New Chief of Gynecologic Oncology

John K. Chan, MD, has been named the new chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the UCSF School of Medicine.

He will assume his new post on March 1.

As chief of gynecologic oncology, Chan will oversee all of the division's clinical, research and educational activities.

"Across the board, UCSF is a national leader in women's health. The addition of Dr. John Chan to UCSF further strengthens our outstanding program in gynecologic oncology," said UCSF Medical Center CEO Mark Laret.

Chan is currently on faculty at Stanford University. Also a clinical and translational scientist, Chan recently has focused his research on ovarian cancer.

After graduating from University of California, Berkeley with a degree in molecular and cell biology and business administration in 1991, Chan attended UCLA medical school, where he earned a medical degree in 1995. He did his residency in gynecology and obstetrics at the University of California, Irvine and completed a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at UC Irvine. He joined the faculty at Stanford in 2003.

"The entire UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, physicians, staff and our patients are thrilled with Dr. Chan's arrival," said Peter Carroll, MD, chair of the Department of Urology. "His incredible talents as a surgeon, clinician-scientist and educator augment an already stellar team. Under his leadership, the Division of Gynecologic Oncology will offer the most innovative, expert and compassionate care."

Chan's research focuses on novel therapeutics in the treatment of ovarian cancer and, in particular, immunotherapy for ovarian cancer. He is also interested in outcomes-based research in gynecologic malignancies.

In addition to his academic accomplishments, Chan has served on professional committees and has received numerous honors and awards. In the community, Chan is currently on the board of directors of the American Cancer Society Northern California Chinese Unit. He is fluent in Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese) and medical Spanish.

"It is wonderful to be joining a division and department that are so strong, and to have the opportunity to expand research, focus on care delivery and on achieving the next level of excellence is exciting," said Chan. "I am pleased and honored to be joining the faculty at UCSF."

Among Chan's many accomplishments, he has won numerous awards, including a New Investigator Award from the Gynecologic Oncology Group/Ovarian Cancer Research Fund and an Outstanding Faculty Award from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford University School of Medicine. He joins UCSF as a recipient of the National Institutes of Health Reproductive Scientist Development Award.

"We are delighted that Dr. Chan will join our faculty in a leadership position," said Linda Giudice, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. "His excellent teaching, research and clinical skills are a welcome asset to UCSF faculty, staff, trainees and patients. We also express our deep appreciation for the leadership that Dr. Bethan Powell has provided as interim division director since 2004."